While doing construction on the 59th Street/Columbus Circle station, workers discovered wall panels, from the early 1900s, with different subway tiles that were exhibited as samples for the public to consider for use in the new subway.

Some of these samples were saved and are now displayed in the station under glass. They are mounted on the current walls, which are also white subway tiles, so this is sort of a zen exercise, or art imitating life, etc.

And here is a particularly nice Art Nouveau painted tile from the tile manufacturer, also on exhibit. What a pleasure to come across something like this in the gritty subway.

Nice.

And I like the old large subway tiles.

Want them in my Bath.

New word for the day: Encaustic.

So cool!